There was no sense of panic inside the Arizona Diamondbacks dugout when Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS continued past regulation. Closer J.J. Putz entered the evening on a two-month scoreless streak, and the team felt confident about advancing.

Though on the other side, Nyjer Morgan was coming off a career year (.304/.357/.421). Plus, his career splits against right-handers had always been impressive.

One of the greatest calls you'll ever hear from broadcaster Bob Uecker. And that's saying something.

Atlanta Braves: Twins Break Through with Metrodome Magic in Game 7 (1991 WS)

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Atlanta Braves fans would become all too familiar with postseason pain. The team went on clinch 15 consecutive NL East division titles and have just one championship to show for its consistent greatness.

At this point, however, expectations were not tempered. The World Series was such a new and surprising achievement for the Braves, who believed they could seal the deal, even in a hostile Metrodome environment.

Jeffrey Maier became a playoff hero—or from this perspective, a heartbreaking villain—at the tender age of 12. He irreparably changed the fates of two franchises during Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series.

The over-anxious preteen reached out his glove from the stands and scooped a fly ball into the front row. Baltimore Orioles right fielder Tony Tarasco was on the warning track and seemingly settled beneath it. Nonetheless, because this transpired before the implementation of instant replay, Derek Jeter was awarded a go-ahead home run.

The O's would lose this ALCS and begin a 14-year streak of sub-.500 campaigns in 1998. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees went on to win four of the next five MLB championships.

Nobody had a front-row seat to see Arnold "Chick" Gandil and his Chicago White Sox teammates conspire to throw the 1919 World Series. Still, during that late September/early October discussion, the sport's reputation was soiled by a few foul individuals seeking to embarrass owner Charles Comiskey.

The favored AL champions made intentional mistakes against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a prearranged pay-off.

Cincinnati Reds: Bobby Tolan Dooms the Reds in Game 7 (1972 WS)

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Bleacher Report colleague Eli Marger verifies my claim that the '72 World Series "ended in heartbreak" for the Big Red Machine.

To summarize, center fielder Bobby Tolan misplayed a fly ball in the first inning of Game 7 that led to an unearned run. The Cincinnati Reds couldn't accomplish much against Blue Moon Odom or Catfish Hunter, and the Oakland Athletics held a slim advantage heading into the later innings.

The greatest strength of the 1997 Cleveland Indians was their productive offense. Power hitters like David Justice, Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome propelled them into the postseason.

But the big bats cooled off at a rather inauspicious time—Game 7 of the World Series.

They provided just two runs of cushion for the Tribe's pitchers. Predictably, the Florida Marlins scored in the seventh and ninth innings to force extra frames.

That's when 21-year-old shortstop Edgar Renteria played the role of Mr. Heartbreaker. With two outs and teammates in scoring position, his line drive deflected off Charles Nagy's glove and into center field.

With a championship hanging in the balance, the Detroit Tigers treated their fans to a stinky performance. And many of the 40,000-plus in attendance reciprocated by throwing rotten fruit and garbage from the bleachers in the sixth inning.

The home team trailed 8-0 at that point and would eventually concede three more runs before Game 7 was through.

This was the fourth straight time that the Tigers had won the American League pennant, but fallen short in the World Series.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Bobby Thomson's Home Run (1951 NL Playoff)

In one of the most incredible comebacks in baseball history, the New York Giants caught the Brooklyn Dodgers on the final day of the regular season after trailing by as many as 13.5 games.

This forced an epic 3-game playoff to determine the National League pennant winner, and Game 3 was one for the ages.

The Giants trailed 4-1 entering the 9th inning, and the fairy tale story seemed about to end. A rally soon followed, and the stage was set for history.

With a young Willie Mays sitting on deck, the Giants' Bobby Thomson came to the plate to face Dodgers' pitcher Ralph Branca with two men on and down 4-2. Thomson turned on a high fastball and hit a line drive 3-run shot to shock Brooklyn and steal the pennant 5-4.

The video speaks for itself, but this is still to this day one of baseball's greatest calls.

Milwaukee Brewers: Golden Era Ends with World Series Loss (1982 WS)

brewers1982.com

After excelling in all phases of the game during the summer of 1982 (plus-164 run differential), the Milwaukee Brewers struggled to contain the St. Louis Cardinals offense. Keith Hernandez and Co. hammered the staff for 15 hits in Game 7.

AL home run champion Gorman Thomas was the Brew Crew's last hope against Bruce Sutter. The at-bat ended with a helpless swing, which was nothing new for him in that Fall Classic (3-26, 0 HR, .294 OPS, 7 SO).

Sadly, Milwaukee's window of contention closed later that offseason. Stud pitchers Rollie Fingers and Pete Vuckovich suffered severe arm injuries and would have little influence on the 1983 team.

New York Yankees: Bill Mazeroski's Series-Clinching Home Run (1960 WS)

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

In 1960, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Yankees was David vs. Goliath.

Both franchises had their traditions. The Bucs perennially finished in the second division, while the dynastic Yankees had just clinched their 10th pennant in 12 years.

Although the Bombers decisively outscored their NL opponent during the series, 55-27, they couldn't hold a lead in the winner-take-all finale. Defensive specialist Bill Mazeroski sent Forbes Field into pandemonium with a walk-off solo shot.

Oakland Athletics: Kirk Gibson's Home Run (1988 WS)

The Oakland Athletics felt confident that MLB saves leader Dennis Eckersley could preserve a 4-3 lead and close out Game 1.

Slugger Kirk Gibson came to the plate, but it didn't seem like a fair fight. The consensus was that he wouldn't play with a swollen right knee, much less transfer his body weight onto it in the act of swinging.

"Eck" tried to sneak a slider past him and Gibson hit one of the most famous—and demoralizing—home runs in baseball history to steal a 5-4 victory. The Dodgers went on to stun the A's and capture the title.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Sid Bream Slides Home Safely (1992 NLCS)

Ronald C. Modra/SI

Pittsburgh Pirates fans were tortured over the course of the 2012 season. The team raised their expectations with four months of extraordinary baseball before scuffling down the stretch and finishing below .500. Again.

Prior to these past 20 insufferable summers (zero postseason berths), the city had the misfortune of contending. As the saying goes, "The longer they survive, the tougher it is to cope with elimination." Or something like that.

The Pirates came within one out of a World Series berth, and they would have gotten away with it, too...if it wasn't for meddling pinch-hitter Francisco Cabrera.

San Diego Padres: Kirk Gibson Puts Game 5 out of Reach (1984 WS)

AP Photo

The 1984 San Diego Padres felt like a team of destiny.

They dedicated the season to late owner Ray Kroc, who passed away prior to Opening Day. Bearing his initials on their chests, Rich "Goose" Gossage and Tony Gwynn led them all the way to the National League pennant.

Alas, they couldn't close the deal against the Detroit Tigers.

**The Padres were within striking distance in Game 5, a ninth-inning rally away from forcing the series to move back to Southern California. But Kirk Gibson widened the deficit from one run to four with a home run off of Gossage.**

MLB.com's Barry M. Bloom chronicles the misfortune that has plagued the '84 Padres, which I find equally heartbreaking.

San Francisco Giants: Team Lets Championship Slip Through Its Grasp (1912 WS)

MLB Photos/Getty Images

Boston Red Sox outfielder Tris Speaker was quite the lucky ducky in this matchup. He scored the tying run in the extra innings of Game 2 on a New York Giants catching error. Umpires then ended the contest due to darkness.

That necessitated a winner-take-all eighth game one week later, in which "The Grey Eagle" was again the beneficiary of good fortune.

Christy Mathewson and Chief Meyers allowed a foul pop-up to fall between them. Speaker seized the opportunity, singled to right field and moved the series-clinching run into scoring position. Minutes later, the Sox were celebrating their second world title.

SI.com's Cliff Corcoran has this moment No. 1 on his list of "Memorable Postseason Miscues," and I can't disagree.

Sorry, no video clip for this one. Media coverage wasn't the same 100 years ago.

It's a shame when the "human element" alters the course of a ballgame, unadulterated tragedy when it decides a World Series.

There isn't a more infamous example than "The Call" made by Don Denkinger in Game 6 of the 1985 Fall Classic. Nearly 42,000 people in attendance saw Jorge Orta get thrown out on a grounder in the ninth inning, but not Denkinger. And unfortunately, his opinion was the only one that mattered.

With the umpire's assistance, the Kansas City Royals won in walk-off fashion. They comfortably blew out the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7, ironically with Denkinger behind the plate.

Facing elimination in the franchise's first-ever World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays were understandably aggressive.

In this instance, Jason Bartlett attempted to score on a soft ground ball up the middle. Chase Utley fielded it cleanly, pump-faked to first base and preserved the tie with an accurate throw to the plate.

The Philadelphia Phillies subsequently took the lead and handed it to "perfect" closer Brad Lidge.

The Washington Nationals had seemingly put the game out of reach in the early innings, at one point leading the St. Louis Cardinals by six runs.

Though the visitors gradually narrowed the deficit to 7-5, victory was all but assured in the ninth. Closer Drew Storen was on the mound, 46,000 fans in sold-out Nationals Park were on their feet, with advancement to the NLCS just one out away.

And then, everything imploded. Light-hitting infielders Daniel Descalso and Pete Kozma—possibly the two least likely heroes in the Cardinals lineup—put the visitors ahead with back-to-back singles.

The city that has waited generations for a contender will need to grit its teeth for at least another year.